After getting old Peter harnessed up they resumed the interrupted journey. When noon came they were within a couple of miles of the place for which they were headed, and it was determined not to make a halt, but keep on until their goal had been gained.
The Sunset Mountains proved to be of considerable dimensions when one approached close to the foothills known as Oak Ridge, on account of the forest that covered the slopes. The scenery was quite wild, and all of the boys decided that they had missed it in not coming here on one of their former outings.
They allowed Frank to select a camping spot. His knowledge of such things was of great value to the chums while afloat in the wilderness. Experience is ten times better than all the book learning one can muster.
As the day was pretty well spent by the time things had been arranged to suit the particular head of the expedition, none of the boys felt like wandering far from the cozy fireside that afternoon.
"To-morrow we can take up the game in earnest, fellows. I went to see Caleb, at the lock, and he told me about his adventure. Wait till I get a chance, and I'll only too gladly let you hear it. But be ready to tie down your caps, for as sure as you live it's bound to make your hair try to stand on end like the quills on the back of a fretful porcupine," observed Jerry while they were busily engaged in the first preparations for supper.
"Wow! That tickles me!" announced Bluff. "After our experiences over on old Wildcat Island, I seem to just hanker after thrills. I wonder——" And instead of finishing his story he cast a loving glance toward his gun, which happened to be leaning up against an adjacent tree at the time, and within arm's length of the proud owner.
"There you go again, you bloodthirsty savage, wondering if this poor, inoffensive ghost, which hasn't hurt anybody, that I've heard, could stand up before that Gatling gun of yours. Be careful, my boy. This may be another Prince Bismarck, who believes that his mission in life is to play Hamlet's ghost scene. You might be sorry if you fired first, and investigated afterward."
Will's remark was caused by the fact that while in camp above the lake, in the preceding fall, they had come in contact with an eccentric character who had escaped from the asylum at Merrick, and who persisted in believing himself to be the one great Bismarck, carrying out the part with wonderful fidelity.
The supper progressed fairly well under the joint care of Bluff and Jerry, who had insisted upon showing what they had learned since the time the four chums sat around a glowing campfire on their previous outing.
Will was busily engaged tinkering with his camera, and dreaming of the new pictures he hoped to get on this trip, to add to the album containing the records of the club's outings.